The author of this article actually just published a book ("Why We Can't Sleep") based on this article from a couple of years ago. Looking forward to reading it soon.

I related to the woman on the conference call dreaming of getting goats and making cheese, and then trying to come up with names for her cheese company....ahhh the zone out during meetings.

Anonymous wrote:Weird. This is me demographically but I don't identify with the article at all. Maybe it'll catch to me in a couple of years. Married, 45, work FT, two kids in ES.

Yeah...come back in 5 years

Anonymous wrote:It gets better. Truly. I am now in the upswing of that U curve.

One thing I think might be missing, despite all our technology, is connecting with women (non-relatives) who are older. And wiser. Where is that community?

We've become too peer-focused IMO. There is so much we can all gain from women who are on the path ahead of us.

They may be a different generation and have lived through different trials but they still can help guide us.

+1. I’m also on the upswing and it would have been helpful to have heard from others who have gone through this.

Anyway, this does get better so know that as you make decisions that affect your life when you’re at the bottom of the U shaped curve.

Weird. This is me demographically but I don't identify with the article at all. Maybe it'll catch to me in a couple of years. Married, 45, work FT, two kids in ES.

It gets better. Truly. I am now in the upswing of that U curve.

One thing I think might be missing, despite all our technology, is connecting with women (non-relatives) who are older. And wiser. Where is that community?

We've become too peer-focused IMO. There is so much we can all gain from women who are on the path ahead of us.

They may be a different generation and have lived through different trials but they still can help guide us.

Great article and so spot on. Laughed out loud at "You are literally seeing red and you want to throw your phone against the wall. So now on top of everything else, it's also like, ‘Did you meditate?'" Yep, we even feel pressure, stress and anxiety around how we're managing our pressure, stress and anxiety!

Wow, thank you for posting this. Wow.

Signed - 47.5 year old woman at the bottom of the U curve

Reading that made me depressed. Normally I am fine.

Thanks for sharing. Yes to so much of this! Especially the part about growing up thinking we could have it all. And the rage.

And I laughed out loud at several lines ... like about how long peri menopause lasts.

Yep, that describes my life.

I was such a strong, competent capable woman...worked hard, rose up through the ranks, made a good salary and then in my early 40s, just started hating life and everything about it, was disillusioned. Everyone around me annoyed me. I quit my executive job 6 months ago but no epiphany ... still just as restless and irritable and unmotivated. and now i am eating through savings.

It isn't depression, it isn't my thyroid. It is just dis contentedness with myself and with life. Most of my friends feel more or less the same. Hoping to soon start seeing the upward swing of the U.

"about two-thirds of us have less wealth than our parents did at the same age.

This isn't because we spent too much on Pearl Jam CDs."

Well written. I enjoyed reading it, thanks OP.

Best part... A transgender friend of mine jokes that he's going to take Perry Menopause as his DJ name.

I feel you sister.

I read this article and identified so hard:

http://www.oprah.com/sp/new-midlife-crisis.html#ixzz5suweN0Ma

I know I'm having a midlife crisis but I'm trying to be constructive not destructive in my reactions (e.f., losing weight and getting a Brazilian instead of quitting my job and having an affair). But everything in the art5has either been my experience or that of my friends.